22-year sentence in trailer park beating; Judge says the case may be the most brutal he's ever seen

Jun. 28, 2013

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Davy Montgomery

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Despite support from dozens of church members and family during Davy Montgomery’s trial in Greene County Court, he was sentenced to prison for 22 years on Thursday.

Considered the “ringleader” of a brutal trailer park beating, Montgomery struck a man in the head with a claw hammer and tried to break his fingers while other men held him down. The victim, Thomas Oliver, was beaten and tortured for hours.

Judge Calvin Holden said the pure brutality of what happened was “just amazing.”

“I do a lot of these cases, and I don’t know if I’ve seen one any worse than this,” Holden said before sentencing Montgomery. “For two or three hours, you not only beat him, stabbed him, but told him he was going to die that day.”

The beating began after a handgun, apparently owned by Montgomery, came up missing.

Prosecutor Russell Dempsey showed pictures of the battered victim during the sentencing.

Dempsey also presented images of weapons that were used, including hammers, a flagpole that was similar to a spear and a club with chains attached to it.

“The victim was beaten to the point he was in and out of consciousness,” Dempsey said.

Montgomery said he was in a dark place during that part of his life. He acknowledged using meth the night of — and days before — the beating.

“You can’t be found until you’re lost,” Montgomery said. “And I was lost.”

Montgomery said when he was able to bond out of jail, he went to a rehabilitation center of his own free will because he knew he needed something.

Montgomery said he went to a 12-step recovery program, went to meetings and reached out for help.

“I lived that life for so long that I didn’t know another way,” Montgomery said, adding that he has been sober for more than two years.

“I’m sorry it took all this to get where I’m at now,” Montgomery said. “But I’m down here sitting in this jail cell, freer than I was three years ago before any of this ever happened.”

Several of those who came to support him responded with “Amen.”

The beating occurred on Jan. 24, 2011. Montgomery was found guilty on April 25, 2013.

Two other men, who were also involved in the beating, have already been sentenced. Another man is awaiting trial.

Kenneth Shaw was sentenced to 17 years, and Aaron Kurek was sentenced to 15 years.

A jury trial has been scheduled for Larry Shaw for Oct. 28.

In exchange for testifying against Montgomery, Shane Launius received no additional prison time, but he is currently serving a 10-year stint on an unrelated conviction.